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Defeating Barnicals

To kill the Barnicals, let them pull you up, than hit
them with a crowbar from a short distance.

Defeating Striders

If you find it difficult to hit the Striders (or any
other enemy) with the RPG from far away, fire a rocket and immediately
press [Zoom]. You will automatically
zoom in like normal, but will still have control of the rocket.
This helps in the later levels when you do not want to get too
close to the Striders, or other enemies like the Combines.

Defend yourself by using the Zero-Point Energy gun

Take something like a barrel, chair, or another object
with the Zero-Point Energy gun. Enemies cannot hurt you when they
are shooting you. For better results, crouch when you are defending
yourself.

Sand Trap: Avoid losing health

When you start the Sands Trap map, you will find some
rocks. Someone will tell you not to step on the sand because a
creature will attack. You will have to jump on the rocks. When
the rock ends and only sand remains, use your gravity gun. Use
it to place a door or wooden piece in the sand and stand on it.
Then, place another object in front of it. Jump on it, remove
the first object, and place it in front. Continue to do this until
you reach rock again and the creature will not appear.

Water Hazard: Sore throat Vortegaunt

When you reach the warehouse with the ramp in the big
circular area go to your left. You should see two sewer pipes
sticking out from the wall. Park the boat under the left one and
get on the boat by jumping. The cover will be pulled back so that
you can crouch jump into the pipe. There are lots of toxic waste;
you must sprint run down the pipe and it will get a little lighter.
Turn left and you will go through a gap in the busted pipe. There
is a Vortegaunt coughing and roasting a Headcrab on a fire. There
is also health here.

Water Hazard: Combine suicide

In the same area as the "Sore thrat Vortegaunt", trick ramp onto the land so the checkpoint triggers. Then, park under the grate. The combine should start shooting. Run back and
visit the Vortagaunt, then run back and the Combine will not shoot. Go back and ramp up there again and they should be dead on the ground.

We Don't Go To Ravenholm: Hidden items

After climbing over the white cars and going through the window, you will go in to a room that has two windows and a zombie in it. When you climb out the window, you will see the old man with a shotgun in a window. Proceed to your left on to a concrete ledge. You will see a flammable barrel behind a grate. Shoot at it and the grate will blow out. Hidden back behind the grate is health and ammunition.

We Don't Go To Ravenholm: Funny legs

When you begin the Ravenholm sequence, kill all the zombies but try to leave the explosive barrels intact. When that is done, do not go into the buildings but instead look at the tree. There will be a pair of zombie legs dangling from a branch by a wire. Enable the god code, take the Gravity Gun, pick up a barrel, and stand close to the legs. Fire the barrel at the legs, at point-blank range. You will hear a thudding noise. Move back slightly and enable the flashlight (if it is not already on) to see the legs making erratic movements and even scribe full circles around the branch.

G-Man sightings

G-Man keeps an omnipresent watch over your movements
throughout your adventure in and around City 17. His locations
are as follows.

2. Chapter 2: On a monitor screen in Dr. Kleiner's lab after Barney finishes at the terminal. (Screenshot)

3. Chapter 3: On the TV that the Vortigaunt is watching inside the red train carriage. (Screenshot)

4. Chapter 4: Standing on the pier in front of Station 7 at the beginning of the chapter. (Screenshot)

5. Chapter 4: Flickering on a giant monitor attached to the high-rise building. It is very quick, but if you look carefully you can see the skeletal form of G-Man on the screen. (Screenshot)

6. Chapter 6: On a small gantry near the second covered bridge. (Screenshot)

7. Chapter 6: In the last part of the chapter you will come across a pier next to a dam. Get onto the pier by driving up the ramp in your speedboat and turn left by the big red warehouse. You can see G-Man staring at you at the bottom of the pier. Note: This sighting is not in the official strategy guide. (Screenshot)

8. Walking into a train tunnel beyond the railcar blocking the railroad. See the "Hidden G-Man" hint for a detailed description. (Screenshot)

9. Chapter 9: Looking through a window near a pair of double doors on a monitor screen at the beginning. (Screenshot)

10. Chapter 11: On a TV at the ruined foyer at the tenement block after you and Dog get separated. (Screenshot)

12: Chapter 7: Highway 17. After you cross the beach with the boat ramp, go inside the house where the two Combine soldiers are located. Use the binoculars to see new little Odessa (Resistance stronghold). The G-man will be talking to an allied soldier in the loft of a farmhouse. Note: He is difficult to see, but you can see his briefcase. (Screenshot) and

Hidden area

Play the Black Mesa East level. When Dr. Judith Mossman goes into the room left of the elevator, quickly follow her in or open the door. In there you can hear her say some things or watch the chefs prepare lunch in the kitchen (as seen going down in the elevator). (Screenshot) and

Easy kills

To kill an enemy quickly and easily, take the shotgun and hit an enemy like headcrap, zombies, and City 17 guards. Aim and hit it in the head to kill it.

You can use Dog's ball to kill; or distract and attract enemies to the ball for easy kills. When you first get the anti-gravity gun while you play fetch with "Dog", make sure to keep the ball. The ball is actually a "rollermine". You can keep the ball up until you go over to Dr. Kliener's fortified graveyard. The rollermine (ball) will follow you almost everywhere and is harmless to you, but it actually kills both types of Head Crabs. Other enemies such as zombies will ignore you and swing violently at the ball, giving you plenty of time to kill them, even with the crowbar. This will save you lots of ammunition throughout the zombie levels. You must be careful not to explode the ball, or it will be gone. If this happens, just re-load from where you had it last. The ball will follow you up most stairs, but you must carry it with the gravity gun up ladders. (Screenshot 1)(Screenshot 2)(Screenshot 3)

Faster reloads

To reload faster with the shotgun, .357 magnum, or any other weapon with a slow reload time, tap [Change To Last Weapon] twice quickly. You should then have a full clip. Note: You must fire with your other weapon. You can then fire and reload at the same time.

Private torture

On the first level when the combine guard (who turns
out to be Barney in disguise) tells you to follow him, do as he
says. While you are walking down the corridor, look through the
small gap in the first door you come across. You will see a man
sitting in a chair, that has blood splattered on the floor underneath
it that says, "There has to be some sort of mistake. I got
a standard relocation coupon juts like everybody else." A
combine guard who is in there with him will then walk up to the
door and close the shutter.

Bonus sequence

After the credits, wait to see the headcrab, Lamar, being pursued by the scientist. Then, watch him pounce on your head.

After you complete the game, watch the credits. Note: They cannot be skipped. When you reach the end of the credits, you will see Lamar jump onscreen. You will then hear Dr. Kliener say, "Lamar? Blast that little Where did she get to?" This is the same thing that he says when you first see him looking for her. Lamar will then lash out at you and supposedly "couple with your head".

Being disruptive

When you enter Dr. Kliener's lab, there is a large
amount of items that you can just pick up and toss around: books,
boxes, computer monitors, a mini cactus, and Dr. Kliener's clip
board with the information for your Hazard Suit on it. If you
toss things around the lab for long enough, Dr. Kliener, Barney
or Alyx will say something to you:

Dr. Kliener: "Oh, do be careful."; "Careful."; and "Oh dear."

Barney: "Whoa, careful." and "You're pushing it, Gordon."

Alyx: "Careful." and "Take it easy, Gordon. "

Note: It will take a lot of attempts to make Alyx, Barney or Dr.
Kliener say something -- be patient.

Headcrabbed zombie message

Record a headcrabbed zombie's voice and play it backwards to hear various messages.

Strange squad comments

When you are in City 17 during your second visit, try talking to some of your squad members. They will say something like, "I can't believe this day has finally come", or "If I ever get my hands on Dr. Breen...". However, sometimes they will say strange and sometimes funny things like, "When this is all over, I'm gonna mate.", "Have I ever told you that I sometimes dream of cheese?", and more. Some of your squad members reply to what they have said. If you talk to a squad member that is standing near or next to another squad member, they will interact with each other. For example, If one of them says, "If I ever get my hands on Dr. Breen....", the other will reply, "That's more information that I require." The following is a list of all the things they say and all the replies: Note that the replies are not always the same, but they are most of the time.

I don't feel anything anymore.

You talking to me?

I can't remember the last time I had a shower.

Don't be so sure of that.

I don't think this war's ever going to end.

You're talking to yourself again.

To think, I all I wanted to do was to sell insurance.

I'm with you.

I'm not a betting man, but the odds are not good.

Can we talk about this later?

Someday, this'll all be a bad memory.

I'm not even gonna tell you to shut up.

When this is all over, I'm gonna mate.

Wouldn't be the first time.

Whoa . Déjà vu!

Doesn't bear thinking about it.

They're never going to make a Stalker out of me.

There's always a first time. Or, Ill put it on your Tomb Stone.

God I'm hungry.

Lets concentrate on the task at hand.

If I ever get my hands on Dr. Breen .

That's more information than I require.

I think I ate something bad.

Yeah, you and me both.

Sometimes, I dream about cheese.

You should nip that kind of talk in the bud.

Finally, change is in the air!

Keep your mind on your work.

You feel it? I feel it!

I wish I had a dime every time somebody said that.

I can't remember I the last time I had, well, anything.

I won't hold it against you.

When this is all over, I'm . aw, who am I kidding?

Try not to let it bother you.

I'm pretty sure this isn't part of the plan.

Same here.

Doesn't anyone care what I think?

Hey, that's enough out of you.

I just knew it was gonna be one of those days.

I wouldn't say that too loud.

Looks to me like things are getting worse, not better.

What am I supposed to do about it?

This is bullshit!

Try not to dwell on it.

I don't dream anymore.

That's you all over.

I'm glad there are no kids around to see this.

I'm not even gonna tell you to shut up.

If I could live my life over again.

Figures.

I'm not even gonna tell you what that reminds me of.

Your mind is in the gutter.

I can't get this tune out of my head .Woo, woo woo, woo woo woo-woo woo.

Wanna bet?

I can't believe this day has finally come!

No argument there.

I could eat a horse, hooves and all!

Have you ever had an original thought?

You smell that? It's freedom.

Why are you telling me?

Movie reference

When you teleport to Dr. Kliener's lab from Nova Prospekt, you will meet up with Dog and go out and find Barney. Do not follow Dog out of the lab yet; wait until Dr. Kliener and Alyx start talking about getting another headcrab to replace Lamar (Dr. Kliener's pet headcrab). After Alyx suggests that he gets another headcrab, he replies, "There is only one heady." In the movie Blazing Saddles, the villain's name is Headly Lamar (whom is called Heady Lamar by some of the characters).

Hedy Lamarr was a famous Austrian actor in the U.S. from the 1930's through the 1950's. Mel Brooks later claimed that Hedy Lamarr tried to sue the producers for the "Hedly Lamarr" jokes. Dr. Kliener's Headcrab was actually names after the "one and only Hedy Lamarr".

Half-Life logo reference

Occasionally you will see the Half-Life Logo spray painted on a wall. One example is on the wall next the entrance to Dr. Kliener's lab.

Note: Whenever the logo appears, there will be health, ammunition, or other pickups available somewhere around that area. The items may sometimes be hidden.

Lamarr reference

When you are in Dr. Kleiner's lab for the first time
(after Alyx beats up the CPs when you meet her), look for a post-it
note on the wall. One of these reads (roughly), "Find more
watermelon for Lamarr".

See Ravenholm

When you are on top of the dam at the end of the "Water
Hazard" chapter, you can see a town with destroyed buildings
under the sunset in the distance. This town is most likely Ravenholm,
considering the type of buildings and its relative location in
comparison to Black Mesa East.rgreyipi lopf rars, w pogl

Easy "Barnacle Bowling" achievement or trophy

Barnacles are the enemies that are glued to the ceiling, with a long tongue that grab anyone passing underneath. In the "Route Kanal" chapter you will arrive in an area full of barnacles. Roll the explosive barrel nearby then shoot it when the barnacles grab it. The explosion should kill at least five barnacles.

Easy "Bug Hunt" achievement or trophy

Defeat the Antlion Guardian in Sandtraps. A Vort will offer you some balls called Pheropod that can attract Antlions. You can use them on enemies in the rest of the level and in Nova Prospekt. Note: Antlions will not attack you anymore.

Easy "Counter-Sniper" achievement or trophy

In Chapter 11, "Follow Freeman", there will be a sniper shooting at you from the far end of the street. Move from cover to cover until you get close enough to toss a grenade or shoot an RPG into his window. Perpendicular to that street is another street also with a sniper at the far end. Reach the rubble that is blocking the end of that street. Hide behind the rubble so the sniper does not shoot at you, but you can still see the window. Save the game. Aim your grenade higher than the window to have it reach inside. If you run out of grenades, reload the saved game. Later in the level you have to climb onto a roofless building in order to save Barney. During this time, a sniper will shoot zombies in front of you. Wait for him to complete the job, then throw a grenade at him. Note: If you are low on grenades, there is a cache in the middle of the floor. After reaching Barney on the top floor, you will encounter two more snipers; one to the left and another in front. Return to the previous cache if needed to get more grenades.

Easy "Flushed" achievement or trophy

Go to "Nova Prospekt" and find the toilet in one of the cells. Take it with the Gravity Gun, climb down the stairs, and look in one of the cells to find a hole with a headcrab inside. Throw the toilet on it to kill it.

Easy "Hack Attack!" achievement or trophy

This is possible after reaching the "Nova Prospekt" chapter or later. When Manhacks attacks, catch them using the Gravity Gun and throw it at your enemies.

Easy "Keep Off the Sand!" achievement or trophy

Collect some planks and sheets of metal to make your way across the beach. The most difficult section is at the end, because it is a wide open area. Patience will be required. If the screen rumbles, reload your last save. You can touch the sand and not spawn any antlions, which voids your progress.

Easy "OSHA Violation" achievement or trophy

In the "Highway 17" chapter you will eventually take control of a crate and use a container to open a gate. You will be attacked by the Combine on the ground. Use containers with the crate to kill them.

Easy "Two Points" achievement

After you get the gravity gun, go to the scrapeyard and play with dog. Once dog gives you his ball, score two points throwing it into the basket. Because the gravity gun throw is powerful, back up slightly to reduce the rebound.

Easy "Vorticough" achievement or trophy

The singing Vort is found at the end of "Water Hazard", when you destroy the chopper just before the dam. When you reach the building with the Combine, go to the left. Climb the ladder, open the gate, and pass through it. Go to the end of the area to find two sewers entrances. One of them is open. You need at least one crate or barrel, or the boat to reach this one. A lot of health will also be required. The sewer is full of toxic material. Enter it on your left will be a hole. Enter it and follow the path to find the singing Vort, baking some headcrabs as lunch.

Easy "What cat?" achievement or trophy

After entering Kleiner's lab in "A Red Letter Day", you will find a miniature replica of the teleporters on the desk to your left. Use them, and a flower pot will teleport from one to the other. Repeat this until they break.

Destroying the hunter chopper

Before reaching Eli's lab in the hydro plant, you must
have to get past the hunter chopper that has been following you
during most of the "Water Hazard" sequences. When you
reach two large rocks with a branch lying over them, stop. You
will see the chopper on its landing pad in the distance. Get out
of the airboat, enable the impulse 101 code and take out
the rocket launcher. Aim the laser pointer at the chopper and
fire all the rockets at it. Keep the laser dot on the chopper;
the missiles follow the laser. Repeat this six times. When the
chopper has taken eighteen hits, get back into the airboat and
go towards the chopper. It will take off, burning and critically
damaged. One burst from the airboat gun will destroy it.

Hidden G-Man

After you finally get out of Ravenholm, you will go
through a tunnel-type area with tons of Headcrabs, past the mine
cart with the big spinning deathtrap, and finally see a light
at the end of the tunnel. You will exit into a train station.
Normally, you would go all the way down until some crashed trains
block you from going further, forcing you to go left into a fenced
area full of combine. Enable the noclip code and walk through
all the crashed trains. You come out in an open area with tracks.
In the middle of the tracks is G-Man with his briefcase. Regrettably,
you cannot talk to him or do anything else in this area.

Crazy lab

The "all-knowing-Vortiguant" can be found
in another location. Enable the map d1_eli_01 code. After
the map loads, find your way inside the airlock. After the scanning
sequence finishes, you should see the right doors opening. Directly
in front of you will be a fence, and beyond it a blue pick-up.
Ignore Dr. Mossman, who is talking to you, and enable the noclip
code. Go through the truck and you will see a man in a blue shirt
with no eyes. Ignore him and go down the ramp down. On the left
side of the large space will be a Vortigaunt. Disable the noclip
code and talk to him as many times as you can to see that he is
crazy.

Hang up combine or zombies

This cheat will allow you to "hang up" combine
or zombies. You will need the crossbow and a lot of ammunition.
Enable the notarget code to be undetected and find a combine
or zombie. Position them against a wall. By shooting the designated
spot (arm, head, leg, etc.), they will stick to the wall, if close
enough. Also, if you shoot a weird part, like the bone in the
leg, they will sometimes spasm.

Mini teleporter

At the beginning of the "Red Letter Day"
chapter, when you enter Dr. Kleiner's lab, to the left of the
entrance is a mini teleporter with a cactus on it. If you press
the E when standing in front of it, you can teleport an
object to the other teleporter, or receive an object from the
other teleporter. Try using different objects from around the
lab. (Screenshot 1)(Screenshot 2)(Screenshot 3)

Cycle previous weapon

Press Q during game play to cycle back to the
previous weapon that you had out.

Armed NPCs

Use the following trick to create an NPC with a weapon. You can use entries from the NPC list and weapon list, as follows. For example, type npc_create_equipment weapon_shotgun will create a shotgun. Then type npc_create npc_combine_s for a Combine Solder that will have a shotgun. Type npc_create_equipment weapon_smg1 then npc_create_barney to have Barney with a SMG. You will have to type npc_create_equipment weapon_<weapon name> each time you would like to create an armed NPC.

Spawn friendly turret

Use this trick to spawn a friendly turret. Enter the npc_create npc_turret_floor code at the console window. Enter the ent_fire npc_turret_floor setrelationship "player D_LI 99" code at the console window. To make it friendly to others enter ent_fire npc_turret_floor setrelationship "npc_<name> D_LI 99" code at the console window. To make the turret fire at another figure, enter ent_fire npc_turret_floor setrelationship "npc_<name> D_HT 99" at the console window. For example, for the target to be the combine, enter combine_s in place <name>. A friendly turret will spawn when you exit the console window.

You must create a file for this trick. You do not need to edit any existing file. Create a text file named "turret.txt" in the "\Half-Life 2\hl2\cfg\" directory. Note: If the folder(s) do not exist, create them. Have the following lines as the content of "turret.txt":

Save the file. Rename the file to "turret.rc". Load the game and open the console window. Type bind * "exec turret.rc" and you can now press [Asterisk] to spawn a friendly turret.

Single headshot kills

When you first get off the train at the very beginning, stop. Enable the bind' < key> 'noclip code. Note: Try binding it to the "O" key. Continue through the storyline until you get to the area with four Combine soldiers standing around, telling you to get into the caged off area to the left. Go inside, but do not turn. You will see a Combine with a pistol on the other side of the gate, where it is totally dark in the left part of the area. Press the key you bound or type noclip and go through the gate. Type noclip again to turn it off. Enable the give weapon_crowbar code and hit the guard with the crowbar until he dies. Take his gun. Behind the guard is a Combine soldier at the monitors. Try out your gun on his head. You only have about 14 to 17 rounds, and this only works on guards that are there for show (the ones with the batons, etc.), and not the ones that attack you with weapons (for example, after they break down the door when you are on the rooftops and come after you). However, all the guards before the attic die when shot in the head once. When done in the caged area, use the noclip code to get back through and continue with the storyline. If you enable the give weapon_pistol code, it will also work. Any pistol will kill them with a single headshot, while anything else will do regular damage (for example, the knees of the guard).

Hidden picture

Enable the noclip code. Go to Alyx and tap W
(Up) very slowly until you go through her head slightly. You can
see some of her hair. The hair creates a picture that resembles
Saddam Hussein. (Screenshot)